Sustaining Architecture in the Anti–Machine Age

In this age of ever–increasing environmental awareness, the issue of sustainability is set to become the dominant factor in architectural design. At a time when, like most professions, architectural practice is increasingly governed by legal guidelines and requirements, competing policy demands require architects to aim for economic, social and environmental sustainability whilst also trying to effect social progress. Sustaining Architecture in the Anti–Machine Age asks whether these two ambitions can be reconciled.

Featuring contributions from architects, journalists, academics and legal consultants, the book takes a balanced look at the subject, giving the full range of sometimes opposing views. Examining all the key issues, it considers why the industrial development of town and country is considered unsustainable rather than socially imperative, and whether the aim of raising the level, standard and performance of arhcitectural production conflicts with the promotion of sustainability.

Over the last decade the profession and practice of architecture has changed rapidly. Sir Michael Latham′s ′Constructing the team′ and Sir John Egan′s ′Rethinking Construction′ attempted to turn the building industry from labour–intensive trade contracting the capital intensity of manufacturing. Paul Hyett, the current president of the Royal Institue of british architects, has a mandate to establish an environmental duty of care. Sustaining Architecture in the Anti–Machine Age considers what these initiatives mean for architects.

Introduction If Sustainable Design isn′t a Moral Imperative, What is? (Paul Hyett)

Zen and the Art of Life–Cycle Maintenance (Austin Williams)

The Popular Legal Fiction (Daniel Lloyd)

Ecological Frequencies and Hybrid Natures (Pamela Charlick and Natasha Nicholson)

Design Tokenism and Global Warming (Helene Guldberg and Peter Sammonds)

Sustainable Development and Everyday Life (Phil Mcnaghten)

The Economics of Sustainable Development (James Heartfield)

Engaging the Stakeholder in the Development Process (Miffa Salter)

The Trouble with Planners (Alan Hudson)

Why it is no Longer Appropriate to Underestimate the Opposition (Margaret Casely–Hayford)

Reinvigorating the English Tradition of Architectural Polemic (Miles Glendinning and Stefan Muthesius)

Town and Country in Perspective (James Heartfield)

The Sand–Heap Urbanism of the Twenty–First Century (Martin Pawley)

Revolutionary Energy (Slater et al)

Smalltowne (Sean Stanwick)

Changes to Basic Duties for Architects in the Law (David Lloyd)

Partnering Agreements (Deborah Brown)

From Strategic Adviser to Design Subcontractor and Back Again (Peter Walker)

Development Rights for the Hydrogen–Fuelled Future (Ian Abley)

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Contributor Biographies

Bibliography

"..every self–professed environmentally conscious architect must read it.." (Building Design, 8 March 2002) 

" turns cherished assumptions on their head through original thought and sophisticated argument sophisticated and refreshing book of the month " (In the Sticks, January 2003)